ODOT News

PORTLAND - Oregon has a strong new coalition working to expand electric vehicle sales and use in the state.

The Energize Oregon Coalition, a voluntary partnership working to ensure a strong market for plug-in electric vehicles in Oregon, was created earlier this year through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Governor Kitzhaber’s office, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and Drive Oregon. The effort has landed key stakeholders and funding, and its initial kickoff meeting was held on November 7.

“Nissan, Honda, Ford, and General Motors have all signed up to join the Energize Oregon Coalition, signaling a significant milestone for an industry that prides itself on its ability to unite the public and private sectors to build a successful market,” said Ashley Horvat, Oregon's Chief Electric Vehicle Officer and co-chair of the new coalition, along with Jeff Allen, executive director of Drive Oregon.

“We welcome their support, along with that of over seventy other businesses and organizations, all working together to ensure Oregon provides national leadership and sustained investment in the EV industry. Accelerating EV adoption will foster innovation, strengthening our economy while moving us closer to a zero-emission and oil-free transportation future.”

Robert Langford of American Honda Motor Co. said, “We are pleased to join Drive Oregon and support this coalition, which is pulling together the key stakeholders and decision makers in Oregon to promote adoption of electric vehicles.”

“Oregon has been at the forefront of the energizing the EV market," said Erik Gottfried, director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing for Nissan. "Leadership at the state and local levels has made Oregon one of the best markets for Nissan LEAF sales, and we look forward to being an active supporter of the Energize Oregon Coalition to build on that success.”

Jana Gastellum of the coalition member Oregon Environmental Council noted, “Electric vehicles dramatically reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, and we look forward to working together to get more of them on Oregon’s roads.”

Separately, Drive Oregon also announced that it has secured a $40,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust to support the coalition and other work to increase electric vehicle use in Oregon.

“Oregon is a leader in the electric vehicle space largely because of the great collaboration we have between carmakers, communities, interest groups, government agencies, and philanthropies like the Meyer Memorial Trust,” said Allen. “Oregon’s ability to mobilize diverse interests in pursuit of shared goals is a tremendous competitive advantage.”

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Drive Oregon is the epicenter for innovation in electric mobility, connecting leaders and entrepreneurs to advance the electric vehicle industry and strengthen our economy. A nonprofit public-private partnership, Drive Oregon is funded in part with Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by Business Oregon. More information: www.driveoregon.org

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) values safety, customer service, efficiency, accountability, problem-solving, diversity and sustainability. With sustainability as one of ODOT’s core values, it is in the best interest of the state to support a growing EV industry. ODOT is providing leadership for the state by continuing to “electrify” the transportation system with the deployment of the West Coast Electric Highway, implementing the EV Tourism Initiative with Travel Oregon, the EV Ambassadors Initiative with Citizens’ Utility Board, leading the Energize Oregon Coalition and the ZEV MOU Implementation Task Force. Learn more at www.oregonelectrichighway.com.

The Energize Oregon Coalition is a voluntary partnership working to ensure a strong market for plug-in electric vehicles in Oregon. The Coalition grew from Oregon’s statewide “Energizing Oregon” action plan and will serve as the implementation arm to carry out the recommendations laid forth in this living document. The Coalition will provide a medium for members to remain proactive by creating new and innovative projects together and leveraging resources, be it people, goods, and/or funding. The Coalition will not only remain proactive and utilize the “Energizing Oregon” Plan as its guide, but will also be nimble in its ability to recalibrate in response to industry evolution and market fluctuations.